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Atlas der Seuchen: Epidemien der Weltgeschichte
Behind every disease is a story, a complex narrative woven of multiple threads, from the natural history of the disease, to the tale of its discovery and its place in history.
But what is vital in all of this is how the disease spreads and develops. In The Atlas of Disease, Sandra Hemple reveals how maps have uncovered insightful information about the history of disease, from the seventeenth century plague maps that revealed the radical idea that diseases might be carried and spread by humans, to cholera maps in the 1800s showing the disease was carried by water, right up to the AIDs epidemic in the 1980s and the recent Ebola outbreak.
Crucially, The Atlas of Disease will also explore how cartographic techniques have been used to combat epidemics by revealing previously hidden patterns. These discoveries have changed the course of history, affected human evolution, stimulated advances in medicine and shaped the course of countless lives.
But what is vital in all of this is how the disease spreads and develops. In The Atlas of Disease, Sandra Hemple reveals how maps have uncovered insightful information about the history of disease, from the seventeenth century plague maps that revealed the radical idea that diseases might be carried and spread by humans, to cholera maps in the 1800s showing the disease was carried by water, right up to the AIDs epidemic in the 1980s and the recent Ebola outbreak.
Crucially, The Atlas of Disease will also explore how cartographic techniques have been used to combat epidemics by revealing previously hidden patterns. These discoveries have changed the course of history, affected human evolution, stimulated advances in medicine and shaped the course of countless lives.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
71 people are currently reading
627 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Hempel
4 books12 followersSandra Hempel is a medical journalist whose work has appeared in the Times, the Sunday Times, and the Guardian. The author of The Inheritor's Powder and the award-winning The Strange Case of the Broad Street Pump, she lives in London.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
December 13, 2018
How very cheerful. If you know anyone who is a perpetual moaner or who loves gloomy books, maybe you could gift them a copy. Airborne diseases followed by water borne, then those transmitted by animals or insects and humans, make up the contents. A few pages on each illness - influenza, cholera, polio, HIV - are followed by a colour-coded map of the world showing where or when each illness occurred. Then there is often another map for the most recent outbreak, or the state of play in 2016. Efforts to combat each disease are discussed, from quarantining to vaccination. Of course we see the famous map of cholera spread in London. From this we expand to see the progress of diseases around the world, with medieval or modern travel. Don't forget the illustrations of the day of what a patient looked like.
To be clear, we don't get rabies and the common cold; just pandemics and killer epidemics. The Spanish Influenza, plague, leprosy, typhoid. Zika, Ebola. I'm getting the shivers just reading about them. Those starting to study medicine, or with an interest in geopolitical history, will find this book fascinating. Personally I'm glad I live in this century, and not in a country which still has polio or TB. This is a well produced book with useful information.
I downloaded an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
To be clear, we don't get rabies and the common cold; just pandemics and killer epidemics. The Spanish Influenza, plague, leprosy, typhoid. Zika, Ebola. I'm getting the shivers just reading about them. Those starting to study medicine, or with an interest in geopolitical history, will find this book fascinating. Personally I'm glad I live in this century, and not in a country which still has polio or TB. This is a well produced book with useful information.
I downloaded an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.
November 7, 2018
If you have an interest in deadly epidemics and how they really became the killers they were/are, then this book is for you. Definitely not something I would recommend binge reading due to the heavy nature of the information and statistics being given, but definitely interesting if you’re up to reading 2-3 entries a day.
Each entry gives you background on the disease, some of its defining attributes, and ultimately how and how quickly it spreads. I really liked that each disease has a world map showing likely origination points and how it spread from there, which was heavily dependent on the trade routes of the time. It is also extremely interesting to read about how these diseases helped with the creation of epidemiology, in seeing patterns of how diseases are spread to determine how to prevent further outbreaks.
If you are prone to being a hypochondriac, I would not recommend this book. But to anyone else that is interested in diseases and their history, I would highly recommend this.
Received via Netgalley and reviewed of my own accord.
Each entry gives you background on the disease, some of its defining attributes, and ultimately how and how quickly it spreads. I really liked that each disease has a world map showing likely origination points and how it spread from there, which was heavily dependent on the trade routes of the time. It is also extremely interesting to read about how these diseases helped with the creation of epidemiology, in seeing patterns of how diseases are spread to determine how to prevent further outbreaks.
If you are prone to being a hypochondriac, I would not recommend this book. But to anyone else that is interested in diseases and their history, I would highly recommend this.
Received via Netgalley and reviewed of my own accord.
September 9, 2022
Das Buch ist an sich wirklich gut gemacht.
Die Krankheiten sind nach dem Übertragungsweg aufgeteilt (Luft, Wasser, Insekten und Andere Tiere, Mensch zu Mensch). Jede Krankeheit wird mit einem kurzen Steckbrief vorgestellt und es wird meist eine Illustration oder ein Stich der Krankheut gezeigt. Anschließend wird allgemein etwas über die Krankheit, den Erreger und den Verlauf gesagt. Darauf aufbauend gehts um die Geschichte der Krankheit. Erstes Auftauchen, große Ausbrüche und wie man die Krankheit Präventiert bzw. Behandelt.
Es werden auch Karten gezeigt die die Ausbreitung weltweit verdeutlichen.
An sich wirklich ein gutes Buch, ich hab mir einfach ein bisschen was anderes vorgestellt auch mit mehr Bildern der Krankheit.
Die Krankheiten sind nach dem Übertragungsweg aufgeteilt (Luft, Wasser, Insekten und Andere Tiere, Mensch zu Mensch). Jede Krankeheit wird mit einem kurzen Steckbrief vorgestellt und es wird meist eine Illustration oder ein Stich der Krankheut gezeigt. Anschließend wird allgemein etwas über die Krankheit, den Erreger und den Verlauf gesagt. Darauf aufbauend gehts um die Geschichte der Krankheit. Erstes Auftauchen, große Ausbrüche und wie man die Krankheit Präventiert bzw. Behandelt.
Es werden auch Karten gezeigt die die Ausbreitung weltweit verdeutlichen.
An sich wirklich ein gutes Buch, ich hab mir einfach ein bisschen was anderes vorgestellt auch mit mehr Bildern der Krankheit.
May 12, 2020
This one is frustrating as an ebook — Adobe Digital Editions wouldn’t let me view all of the images no matter how I adjusted the pages — but fascinating; I’d love to get my hands on a physical copy for a while to look at some of the figures again. It’s not just maps, really; it’s a world-tour of disease, with a lot of other illustrations as well. There are reproductions of informational posters, images showing the course of disease, and descriptions of the origins of diseases, the symptoms, their impacts on humanity…
Though there are a lot of images, there’s much of interest in the text as well. Much of it isn’t new to me, of course — but even when it came to tuberculosis, there was a surprise or two for me. (Alright, alright, I’ll tell you: I was surprised that the BCG vaccination actually has very mixed results: the efficacy is 60-80%, but falls as you approach the equator. It’s probably an artefact of different studies or different ways of preparing the actual vaccination, if you think about it, but it’s really interesting to try and figure out how a vaccination could lose efficacy based on geography.)
I’d recommend a physical copy to get the images, but it was interesting even when they weren’t always easy to examine. The facts are somewhat basic, since it doesn’t go into great depth, but there was enough to keep me (as someone who has studied infectious diseases and reads a lot about them) interested.
Though there are a lot of images, there’s much of interest in the text as well. Much of it isn’t new to me, of course — but even when it came to tuberculosis, there was a surprise or two for me. (Alright, alright, I’ll tell you: I was surprised that the BCG vaccination actually has very mixed results: the efficacy is 60-80%, but falls as you approach the equator. It’s probably an artefact of different studies or different ways of preparing the actual vaccination, if you think about it, but it’s really interesting to try and figure out how a vaccination could lose efficacy based on geography.)
I’d recommend a physical copy to get the images, but it was interesting even when they weren’t always easy to examine. The facts are somewhat basic, since it doesn’t go into great depth, but there was enough to keep me (as someone who has studied infectious diseases and reads a lot about them) interested.
December 3, 2018
The Atlas of Disease is, quite literally, what it says on the tin: maps of pathways which various diseases have taken (as well as some "this-is-where-this-still-exists") as well as the Sparknotes-version (except with a lot more information and a lot more detailed than the average Sparknotes) of these diseases and how they behave, both before and after infection. As a visual learner, these maps were super helpful - but I wouldn't have minded if the maps themselves had been slightly more informative.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 21, 2018
Each year, it seems, a new and deadly disease arises or an old epidemic breaks out - recently, eg, the return of diseases that we thought were history thanks to vaccines, diseases like Measles and Chicken Pox and recurring diseases that have no simple solution like Ebola. But diseases have played a profound role in the course of history from possible small pox epidemics in ancient times to the influenza epidemic of 1918-19 that killed more people than combat during WWI to the recent Ebola outbreaks or the cholera epidemic that has, just in the last few months, killed thousands in Yemen. In The Atlas of Disease: Mapping deadly epidemics and contagion from the plague to the zika virus, author Sandra Hempel not only gives a fascinating overview of many of the worst epidemics we have faced right up to the present but provides maps showing the countries affected by them, how the disease developed and spread and the pathways they took as they spread. She explains how cartographic techniques have been used to combat disease (eg. how John Snow identified the source of the 1854 cholera epidemic in London) and how this has helped to contain the spread of deadly pathogens.
For anyone interested in how epidemics and pandemics have changed our history and how mapping their spread, albeit just one weapon in the arsenal against them, has helped in the past and continues to help in containing them, The Atlas of Disease is a fascinating read and I recommend it highly.
Thanks to Netgalley and White Lion Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
For anyone interested in how epidemics and pandemics have changed our history and how mapping their spread, albeit just one weapon in the arsenal against them, has helped in the past and continues to help in containing them, The Atlas of Disease is a fascinating read and I recommend it highly.
Thanks to Netgalley and White Lion Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
October 3, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley, White Lion Publishing, and Sandra Hempel for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.
The Atlas of Disease is perfectly summarized in the title. The book features diseases that have caused epidemics, outbreaks and overall ill health in humans throughout history. The author uses maps to help illustrate the spread of, infection rate, and other useful information relating to each disease.
Each disease featured starts with the basics about it, so even if you’re not an expert in the field you can learn about the disease enough to have a good understanding to read the rest of the section. The next few pages describe the history, transmission, and much other information related to that specific disease. I found it fascinating and learned some new information, even beyond what I had learned in my college courses.
I found it very interesting to see how people’s actions affect the spread of disease including individual people’s choices, the political climate, war, poverty, and famine. Also the book is a great example of why vaccinations are so important. Yes, anti vaxxers I’m talking to you. Vaccinate your children!
However, some of the maps didn’t interest me that much. Partly because I was reading it on my iPhone so I had to constantly zoom in and move the page of the book around the see the whole map, so it was more bothersome than worth it. Also I already understood most of the information through reading the text, so the map didn’t give me too much additional information. But if you’re a big visual learner or very next to the subjects then the maps would be very helpful.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading The Atlas of Disease. I highly recommend it, especially if you’re a nerd like me.
The Atlas of Disease is perfectly summarized in the title. The book features diseases that have caused epidemics, outbreaks and overall ill health in humans throughout history. The author uses maps to help illustrate the spread of, infection rate, and other useful information relating to each disease.
Each disease featured starts with the basics about it, so even if you’re not an expert in the field you can learn about the disease enough to have a good understanding to read the rest of the section. The next few pages describe the history, transmission, and much other information related to that specific disease. I found it fascinating and learned some new information, even beyond what I had learned in my college courses.
I found it very interesting to see how people’s actions affect the spread of disease including individual people’s choices, the political climate, war, poverty, and famine. Also the book is a great example of why vaccinations are so important. Yes, anti vaxxers I’m talking to you. Vaccinate your children!
However, some of the maps didn’t interest me that much. Partly because I was reading it on my iPhone so I had to constantly zoom in and move the page of the book around the see the whole map, so it was more bothersome than worth it. Also I already understood most of the information through reading the text, so the map didn’t give me too much additional information. But if you’re a big visual learner or very next to the subjects then the maps would be very helpful.
All in all, I really enjoyed reading The Atlas of Disease. I highly recommend it, especially if you’re a nerd like me.
May 10, 2021
- ข้อมูลล้วนๆ แต่เนื้อหาไม่หนัก ไม่วิชาการจ๋า เข้าใจง่าย แต่เพราะเล่าถึงแต่ละโรคพอสังเขปก็เลยไม่ได้ลงลึกในรายละเอียดมากเท่าไรนัก
- เล่าถึงประวัติของโรคระบาด 20 โรคที่มีผลกระทบใหญ่ๆ กับมนุษยชาติ แบ่งประเภทตามพาหะการระบาดออกเป็น 4 ประเภท น้ำ อากาศ สัตว์ และมนุษย์
- และเพราะเขียนก่อนปี 2019 เลยไม่ได้กล่าวถึง Covid19 มีที่ใกล้เคียงก็ SARS เพราะจัดเป็นชนิด Corona Virus เช่นกัน
- ข้อเสียคือ แผนผัง-แผนที่ ไม่จำเป็นต้องมีก็ได้ เพราะให้รายละเอียดน้อยมาก และค่อนข้างดูยาก
- และหนังสือราคาแพงไปหน่อยนะ
- เล่าถึงประวัติของโรคระบาด 20 โรคที่มีผลกระทบใหญ่ๆ กับมนุษยชาติ แบ่งประเภทตามพาหะการระบาดออกเป็น 4 ประเภท น้ำ อากาศ สัตว์ และมนุษย์
- และเพราะเขียนก่อนปี 2019 เลยไม่ได้กล่าวถึง Covid19 มีที่ใกล้เคียงก็ SARS เพราะจัดเป็นชนิด Corona Virus เช่นกัน
- ข้อเสียคือ แผนผัง-แผนที่ ไม่จำเป็นต้องมีก็ได้ เพราะให้รายละเอียดน้อยมาก และค่อนข้างดูยาก
- และหนังสือราคาแพงไปหน่อยนะ
October 10, 2018
I already know the basics of signs/symptoms and transmission of highly contagious diseases courtesy of an eclectic nursing career, but generally have difficulty envisioning global pathways (think of it as map dyslexia). This book revisits the more notable contagious diseases throughout world history, but is exceptional in that it gives excellent visuals demonstrating WHERE the diseases traveled and if simultaneously or sequentially. Fascinating! An excellent resource for geeks and practical application as well. I will be glad to revisit this book periodically, and not just for crosswords or to win a bet with a colleague!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Quarto Publishing Group - White Lion Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!
May 31, 2021
"Una noche con Venus y una vida con Mercurio"
Un buen libro repleto de información histórica que permite ver las actuaciones del pasado y como se afrontaron las distintas epidemias y pandemias. Además de añadir un toque médico y una breve introducción a cada patógeno. Muy recomendable para ver como los ciclos se repiten.
Un buen libro repleto de información histórica que permite ver las actuaciones del pasado y como se afrontaron las distintas epidemias y pandemias. Además de añadir un toque médico y una breve introducción a cada patógeno. Muy recomendable para ver como los ciclos se repiten.
December 16, 2024
Kurz und gut Beschrieben.
Es werden die bekanntesten Krankheiten wie Pest, Tuberkulose, Syphilis und HIV/Aids beschrieben. Dort wird sehr kurz die Geschichte, die Symptome und Krankheitsverlauf, sowie Heilansätze als auch gesellschaftliche Probleme dargestellt. Dazu Karten wo, wann und wie häufig die Krankheit in einem Land wütete.
Empfehlenswert für alle, die sich eine kurze und schnellen Überblick über Krankheiten sich verschaffen wollen.
Es werden die bekanntesten Krankheiten wie Pest, Tuberkulose, Syphilis und HIV/Aids beschrieben. Dort wird sehr kurz die Geschichte, die Symptome und Krankheitsverlauf, sowie Heilansätze als auch gesellschaftliche Probleme dargestellt. Dazu Karten wo, wann und wie häufig die Krankheit in einem Land wütete.
Empfehlenswert für alle, die sich eine kurze und schnellen Überblick über Krankheiten sich verschaffen wollen.
August 10, 2025
Super synthèse des différentes épidémies au cours de notre histoire
October 29, 2018
The Atlas of Disease provides really great overviews of several diseases. Hempel does an excellent job of describing the diseases by giving the history, epidemiology, some science, and recent events related to the diseases. While the maps were a nice visual to accompany the disease descriptions, I didn’t find them to be very significant or impactful. One particular map that comes to mind is the cases of scarlet fever recorded in Europe in WW2. The map of Europe has bar graphs to illustrate the number of cases in different years per region, but the scale is poorly executed to depict the number of cases and the bar graphs look really out of place. Considering that the purpose of the book was to provide an “atlas of disease”, I felt like the maps should’ve been more effective at conveying information while still being a nice visual for the reader. I was initially drawn to The Atlas of Disease for the maps, but unfortunately, I thought that the maps were the weakest part of the book.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley.
September 26, 2019
*FYI, I didn't really finish the book, but only read the section on plague.*
If I see the word "atlas" in the title, I'm thinking atlas. Like, something at least mapping the spread of disease country-by-country if not even more minutely than that. I got this hoping to get a better visualization of the spread of the various plague epidemics, and was looking for more specific information about time, place, plague loci, etc. What I got was a very prettily bound book with no more information about each disease than what you can find in a 30 minute google search. More reputable and reliable than wikipedia, sure, but more informative? Not so much. If anything, the stylized maps about the spread of the disease included in this book were less helpful and less specific than any I've found online or just as add-ons in the other books I've been reading.
A nice coffee table book, maybe, but nothing extraordinary, and certainly not an "atlas."
If I see the word "atlas" in the title, I'm thinking atlas. Like, something at least mapping the spread of disease country-by-country if not even more minutely than that. I got this hoping to get a better visualization of the spread of the various plague epidemics, and was looking for more specific information about time, place, plague loci, etc. What I got was a very prettily bound book with no more information about each disease than what you can find in a 30 minute google search. More reputable and reliable than wikipedia, sure, but more informative? Not so much. If anything, the stylized maps about the spread of the disease included in this book were less helpful and less specific than any I've found online or just as add-ons in the other books I've been reading.
A nice coffee table book, maybe, but nothing extraordinary, and certainly not an "atlas."
January 8, 2019
I enjoyed the stories, but the spelling and grammar errors grated. There is even a map indicating that Syphilis was recorded in Australia and New Zealand 200 years before the Europeans arrived.
The maps are made using grades of the same colour. Looks nice but it is very difficult to determine what actual colour, and therefore what value, is in each area. There is also no indication of what the measure is - is the indicated value the value for each country, each separate coloured blob or is it encompassed by the entire colour? I think different maps covered each of these situations. The column charts could be improved by having a figure on them so I didn't have to get out a ruler to discover the values. Land masses coloured blue is also confusing, but I live on an island off an island so I'm used to maps with lots of ocean rather than land.
The maps are made using grades of the same colour. Looks nice but it is very difficult to determine what actual colour, and therefore what value, is in each area. There is also no indication of what the measure is - is the indicated value the value for each country, each separate coloured blob or is it encompassed by the entire colour? I think different maps covered each of these situations. The column charts could be improved by having a figure on them so I didn't have to get out a ruler to discover the values. Land masses coloured blue is also confusing, but I live on an island off an island so I'm used to maps with lots of ocean rather than land.
October 10, 2018
Most non-fiction books that are historical in nature would do well to include maps. A well designed and informative map adds greatly to my enjoyment of the subject matter. The historical and medical descriptions contained in 'The Atlas of Disease' are accurate and up to date. Each short chapter contains enough information to entertain without being boring. The included maps, however, are not informative or useful to a student of disease. The maps do not add to the narrative and nothing would be lost if they were not included.
November 1, 2018
A look at epidemic and pandemic diseases that have afflicted the world with a focus on maps of the spread of these diseases and how mapping diseases has been influential in aiding epidemiologists. Each disease gets 6-8 pages of text describing where it likely originated, when it was first noted, how it manifests and is treated, how it spreads, the years of major epidemics/pandemics (with maps of these), and how/when the WHO aims to eliminate the disease.
I find epidemiology a fascinating field. It’s a medical field that often gets overlooked until a major pandemic threatens and suddenly people who’ve never heard of an epidemiologist are paying major attention to their work. Even during such pandemics, you may never hear the term epidemiology mentioned but they are the oft unsung heroes who make it their job to find ways to stop those pandemics. The ways that maps can shed light on how diseases spread is integral to epidemiology, and an interesting overlap of geography, statistics, and science. This book keeps all the chapters short and easily readable. They are set up so that you can read individual chapters without needing to read any other, especially in that information relevant to different diseases is fully explained again when it appears in another disease. For people reading the book straight through, this may be annoying in its repetitiveness, but it does increase the usefulness of the book as it makes the book good for both quick researchers of specific diseases and full readers. Recommended to those who want to find out more about epidemiology, map lovers, and those fascinated by medical catastrophes and/or breakthroughs.
Notes on content: No language issues. The fact that some diseases are spread sexually is mentioned very textbook clinically. There are detailed descriptions of how various diseases can afflict sufferers and kill. Some of those are a bit nasty, and obviously there are millions of deaths mentioned over the course of the book.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I find epidemiology a fascinating field. It’s a medical field that often gets overlooked until a major pandemic threatens and suddenly people who’ve never heard of an epidemiologist are paying major attention to their work. Even during such pandemics, you may never hear the term epidemiology mentioned but they are the oft unsung heroes who make it their job to find ways to stop those pandemics. The ways that maps can shed light on how diseases spread is integral to epidemiology, and an interesting overlap of geography, statistics, and science. This book keeps all the chapters short and easily readable. They are set up so that you can read individual chapters without needing to read any other, especially in that information relevant to different diseases is fully explained again when it appears in another disease. For people reading the book straight through, this may be annoying in its repetitiveness, but it does increase the usefulness of the book as it makes the book good for both quick researchers of specific diseases and full readers. Recommended to those who want to find out more about epidemiology, map lovers, and those fascinated by medical catastrophes and/or breakthroughs.
Notes on content: No language issues. The fact that some diseases are spread sexually is mentioned very textbook clinically. There are detailed descriptions of how various diseases can afflict sufferers and kill. Some of those are a bit nasty, and obviously there are millions of deaths mentioned over the course of the book.
I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 31, 2019
Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Atlas of Disease is a non-fiction historically and scientifically accurate book on epidemiology. Released 27th Nov 2018, by Quarto on their White Lion imprint, it's 224 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.
Author Sandra Hempel is a journalist with long experience writing about medical and social issues. The book is aimed at the layperson and whilst the book is scientifically accurate, it's doesn't require a lot of background knowledge of disease or epidemiology to understand.
The chapters are arranged around methods of transfer: airborne diseases, waterborne, zoonose (animal/insect to human), and human to human. Each of the individual disease entries includes map and graphical data along with historical background and info. The most devastating epidemics and pandemics in history are covered individually.
I found the book very educational but not dry or boring at all. I would definitely recommend the book to anyone who enjoys medical nonfiction. It's well researched, well written, and accessible to a wide audience.
Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Atlas of Disease is a non-fiction historically and scientifically accurate book on epidemiology. Released 27th Nov 2018, by Quarto on their White Lion imprint, it's 224 pages and available in hardcover and ebook formats.
Author Sandra Hempel is a journalist with long experience writing about medical and social issues. The book is aimed at the layperson and whilst the book is scientifically accurate, it's doesn't require a lot of background knowledge of disease or epidemiology to understand.
The chapters are arranged around methods of transfer: airborne diseases, waterborne, zoonose (animal/insect to human), and human to human. Each of the individual disease entries includes map and graphical data along with historical background and info. The most devastating epidemics and pandemics in history are covered individually.
I found the book very educational but not dry or boring at all. I would definitely recommend the book to anyone who enjoys medical nonfiction. It's well researched, well written, and accessible to a wide audience.
Five stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
February 9, 2019
I have always been the sort of person who keeps nuggets of random information with me to use as conversation fillers and maybe for people to think I am wacky enough to start an interesting conversation with. I know disease is not necessarily an appropriate conversation starter, but this book covers the most fascinating of details.This is not a book for the faint of heart. It has historical references, social contexts, the timeline of diseases and how it ran rampant across the globe. There are even pictures of old pamphlets that were circulated during some particular phases as well as pictures of the people suffering. It has a lot of information which is heavy,that it is the kind of book that you keep on a shelf and take it down at any time there is a lull in your life in order to enhance your understanding of how far human society has come in the modern world(and not preferably read at a go). This is, in no uncertain terms an encyclopedia with all that you can ever want to know about diseases. I am usually queasy about details which are not 'happy' but this is very educative and dealt in that manner making it worth the time spent in reading it.
I bought a copy of the book because I was unable to complete the Advance review copy within the allotted time and the little I had read fascinated me enough to break out of my habit of not randomly purchasing books
For other unrelated reviews: www.superfluousreading.wordpress.com
I bought a copy of the book because I was unable to complete the Advance review copy within the allotted time and the little I had read fascinated me enough to break out of my habit of not randomly purchasing books
For other unrelated reviews: www.superfluousreading.wordpress.com
November 6, 2018
"The Atlas of Disease" explores major diseases and epidemics. The author looked at diphtheria, influenza, leprosy, measles, scarlet fever, SARS, smallpox, tuberculosis, cholera, dysentery, typhoid, malaria, plague, typhus, yellow fever, Zika, polio, Ebola, AIDS, and syphilis. She talked about the history of the disease, including quotes from historical people talking about what the disease was like during normal, local appearances or during epidemics or in perhaps the first recorded mentions of a disease. She talked about what may have caused a disease to turn into an epidemic (like war, trade, etc.) and also where the disease is currently still a problem.
While adequate, I had expected more maps and more detailed maps in an atlas. There was usually one or two maps per disease, showing things like the spread of the disease during a certain outbreak. They were usually either color-coded chunks on a map or color-coded arrows indicating the general spread of the disease. While the author did talk about how maps were used to identify the source of the cholera during an epidemic, maps were not the focus of the text but illustrations of what was stated in the text. I found the information about how the diseases were treated and viewed in the past and the present to be interesting.
I received an e-book review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
While adequate, I had expected more maps and more detailed maps in an atlas. There was usually one or two maps per disease, showing things like the spread of the disease during a certain outbreak. They were usually either color-coded chunks on a map or color-coded arrows indicating the general spread of the disease. While the author did talk about how maps were used to identify the source of the cholera during an epidemic, maps were not the focus of the text but illustrations of what was stated in the text. I found the information about how the diseases were treated and viewed in the past and the present to be interesting.
I received an e-book review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
November 3, 2018
This is a very good popular science book, conveying as it does the history of science where several major diseases are concerned. It's not perfect (it constantly calls leprosy leprosy, even once it's said twice it's now called something else, and the purples on many maps really were impossible to differentiate on my e-arc) but it's very good. If you want to hope, like the WHO, that many of these diseases can and will be eradicated by 2020 then you'd better hope skates are fully got on, as some of these really are prevalent. A quarter of a million new diagnoses of leprosy (sorry, it's called something else now, apparently) in 2017 alone? Nut-jobs saying injections against measles cause autism? No, things really do have to look up, but this book is also great at looking back – where the diseases may have came from, how we thought they travelled way back when (and how we know they do travel now), and so on. The post-WWI incidence of flu was only named Spanish Flu because the neutral country felt able to publicise it in the press; other countries were combatant states where any such negative reporting would be bad propaganda. It's details like this you turn to books like this for, and that approach really seems to work for the illnesses herein. Most impressive.
December 14, 2019
Disease, a topic that will either fascinate you or disgust you. For me, it is fascinating and I actually described this book to someone as "cute". This little book will give you a brief rundown of some of the bigger killers through history. Each entry is an average of two graphs and about four pages of information that cover the inception, discovery, and treatment of that disease. I found the Broad Street pump to be extremely interesting, I had never found it before and looking at the map was astounding. There was another story about a scientist who believed that mosquitos were the transmission method for a disease and to test that theory he had one of them bite him (he then later died). I do wish that it would have gone into more depth on what the disease did to your body when you contract it, but that is extremely morbid. Regardless, if you are looking for a book to teach you about the most famous diseases in the world, you will be in for a treat with this book!
February 18, 2019
Being a physician albiet a Radiologist, I decided to check this book out called " The Atlas of Disease" and to be honest it brought back all those memories of medical school Microbiology lectures. I have to admit I barely remember a fraction of what I knew about the subject matter from back in med school.but this book provided a quick refresher. Obviously this time I enjoyed reading the book rather than trying to cramp for some exam.
The pathogens are categorized depending on their origin with brief historic significance regarding their origin, geographical distribution, signs, symptoms and just fun tit-bits about the entity.
If you are a student of infectious diseases getting a PhD or a medical resident/fellow or a medical student this book will make a good addition to your book shelf.
P.S: This book was given to me by NetGalley for free in return of my unbiased review.
The pathogens are categorized depending on their origin with brief historic significance regarding their origin, geographical distribution, signs, symptoms and just fun tit-bits about the entity.
If you are a student of infectious diseases getting a PhD or a medical resident/fellow or a medical student this book will make a good addition to your book shelf.
P.S: This book was given to me by NetGalley for free in return of my unbiased review.
October 2, 2018
Fascinating look at epidemics, outbreaks and other ways microbes can harm you
I loved this book. Even though the book is grim (20 different ways that germs can kill you), it was still fun to read. Sandra Hempel provides an overview of these infectious diseases: their causative agents, how and where they originated and how they spread. The information is provided concisely, but is accompanied by maps, images of the microbes, and works of art portraying the diseases. While there was some science, it was explained very well. I recommend this book for anyone interested in biology, medicine or the history of science.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.
I loved this book. Even though the book is grim (20 different ways that germs can kill you), it was still fun to read. Sandra Hempel provides an overview of these infectious diseases: their causative agents, how and where they originated and how they spread. The information is provided concisely, but is accompanied by maps, images of the microbes, and works of art portraying the diseases. While there was some science, it was explained very well. I recommend this book for anyone interested in biology, medicine or the history of science.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley for review purposes.
December 16, 2018
This is an incredibly informative book that does exactly what it claims. This book gives excellent information and mapping of many different human illnesses in history. Very informative. If you are looking for a humorous book try Get Well Soon: History's Worst Plagues and the Heros who fought them. If however, what you are looking for is excellent factual and visual information on how different illnesses started and spread this is definitely the book for you. It is well worth the money.
May 12, 2019
Nice neat sized colourful hardback, not so much an atlas as a breakdown of disease by vector (airborne, waterborne, insects & animals, human to human) with fascinating historical ilustrations, posters and microscopy imaging. There are maps of the world showing the spread of each disease but I found them difficult to follow and felt they did not really add anything, often colours showing different categories were too close together.
Also, I felt it was quite clinical in style, symptoms are described but I felt personal testimonies would have brought a valuable dimension to the book
Also, I felt it was quite clinical in style, symptoms are described but I felt personal testimonies would have brought a valuable dimension to the book
January 21, 2020
Nice clear description of the features and history of some of the most important infectious diseases. The inclusion of key clinical and public health features makes this potentially useful for people studying for public health exams. The book is high quality and the illustrations are nice (although some of the maps are a bit confusing - the use of colour to indicate the timing of disease spread isn't always very clear). A few typos here and there too, which is a shame for such a well produced book.
May 2, 2020
Sandra Hempel is a medical journalist whose illustrated book gives a potted history and description of 20 diseases that used to (and in some cases, still) ravage the world. It’s a weird mix of history, geography and science (some of which I knew from elsewhere) but there were nuggets of new information here and while the maps are a little haphazard and poorly designed, they do give a sense of the devastation caused by these diseases.
February 16, 2022
I found this book fascinating and completed it in one day. It is a short book, less than 225 pages, and is filled with world charts showing the flow of disease from origin to spread. With the world now facing Covid, it is a great read on how pandemics and outbreaks have been handled in the past.
Put your politics aside and you will find we are doing some of the same preventive measures that have worked in the past to stall the spread of disease.
Put your politics aside and you will find we are doing some of the same preventive measures that have worked in the past to stall the spread of disease.
January 22, 2023
This book was amazing - the maps of epidemics were particularly beautiful. The only reason I gave it a 3 was because I knew a lot of the information already mentioned, particularly with cholera and coronaviruses (which isn’t a fault with the book itself). If you’re looking for a crash-course in diseases and their journeys across the globe, this book is perfect.
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